As the Saudi-led OPEC+ alliance seeks to reduce oil production and Democratic lawmakers demand a halt to collaboration with the Saudis, President Joe Biden stated on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 that there will be “consequences” for Saudi Arabia.
As White House officials announced that the administration is reevaluating its relationship with the kingdom in light of the oil production cut that they claim will help another member of OPEC+, Russia, bolster its coffers as it continues its nearly eight-month war in Ukraine, Biden signalled that he would soon take action.
Legislation that would immediately halt all arms shipments from the United States to Saudi Arabia for a year was sponsored by Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Rep. Ro Khanna of California. Sales of support services, logistical support, and spare and repair parts would also stop during this delay.
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However, it is unclear how far Biden will go in expressing his disapproval with Saudi Arabia, a crucial but complex ally in the Middle East. Because of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, Biden promised to rebalance the U.S. relationship when he took office, although he later visited the country early this year.
In a CNN interview, Biden stated that he would seek advice from Congress on the best course of action, but he refrained from endorsing the Democratic lawmakers’ call to halt arms sales.
“There’s going to be some consequences for what they’ve done, with Russia,” Biden said. “I’m not going to get into what I’d consider and what I have in mind. But there will be — there will be consequences.”
Biden thinks “it’s time to take another look at this partnership and make sure that it’s serving our national security goals,” according to John Kirby, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council.
According to the White House’s press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, neither the president nor the White House have set a deadline for the study.
